22 h. ago Update on calls to raise personal tax allowance to £20,000 'in 2 days' with Commons clash

A 'fiscal drag' showdown will take place between MPs because support for changes to income tax thresholds has gained massive backing

Economics

44 h. ago ‘Really a mess’: America’s air traffic control system suffering from years of neglect

Roots of the crisis go back to Reagan but Musk’s Doge team accused of making things worse – can it be fixed?Twice in the past two weeks, communications between air traffic controllers and airplanes at Newark Liberty, one of the US’s busiest airports, have failed – leaving controllers unable to communicate with pilots.The outages have, thankfully, only led to massive delays, not disaster. But they have also once again focused a harsh light on the persistent safety problems at US airports, which handle over 50,000 flights a day. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago ‘Really a mess’: US’s air traffic control system suffering from years of neglect

Roots of the crisis go back to Reagan but Musk’s Doge team accused of making things worse – can it be fixed?Twice in the past two weeks, communications between air traffic controllers and airplanes at Newark Liberty, one of the US’s busiest airports, have failed – leaving controllers unable to communicate with pilots.The outages have, thankfully, only led to massive delays, not disaster. But they have also once again focused a harsh light on the persistent safety problems at US airports, which handle over 50,000 flights a day. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago Greek island of Zakynthos named most crowded resort in Europe

A new Which? Travel report on overtourism also cites Mallorca and Paris as destinations suffering from an influx of visitors, but some argue that bad behaviour is as much of a problem as numbersIn Great Yarmouth there are some signs of regeneration: the vast glass palace of the Winter Gardens is being refurbished and the ornate Cafe 1903 next to the historic Hippodrome is busy. But the bustling tourist industry of the Edwardian era is long gone. “When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show came in 1903, the tent held 5,000,” says local historian Roger Silver. “A couple of years earlier the Bass Brewery brought 10,000 workers on a day trip from Burton upon Trent. It took 16 trains.”Coincidentally, that is the same number of visitors who poured into the Italian mountain village of Roccaraso (population 1,500) in January, drawn by the presence of Tik Tok influencer Rita de Crescenzo. But the similarities end there. The Yarmouth invasion received no complaints, while the residents of Roccaraso r...

Politics

63 h. ago France and Poland ‘open a new page’ in relations after signing new defence treaty – Europe live

France president and Poland’s leader have signed a defence and energy treatyLet’s bring you some more pictures from the Moscow parade earlier today, a not very subtle attempt as showing off the Russian military power.French president Emmanuel Macron posted a social media update on his last night’s phone call with US president Donald Trump.I spoke several times last night with @POTUS. I commend his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did our British and Nordic partners earlier this morning. Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago US grants asylum to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans, reports say

Donald Trump has directed officials to grant refugee status to Afrikaners who he claims suffer discriminationThe US has granted refugee status to 54 white Afrikaner South Africans, who could arrive as soon as Monday in Washington DC, where they will be welcomed by government officials, according to media reports.Donald Trump suspended the US refugee settlement programme in January on his first day in office, leaving more than 100,000 people approved for resettlement stranded, having fled war and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago Russia stages Victory Day parade as EU ministers pledge further support for Ukraine – Europe live

EU representatives hold meeting in Lviv as Russia staged a lavish parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world warLet’s bring you some more pictures from the Moscow parade earlier today, a not very subtle attempt as showing off the Russian military power.French president Emmanuel Macron posted a social media update on his last night’s phone call with US president Donald Trump.I spoke several times last night with @POTUS. I commend his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did our British and Nordic partners earlier this morning. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Catholics around the world celebrate as Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV – live

Successor to Pope Francis becomes first US pontiff, although he is also a Peruvian citizenRobert Francis Prevost: the moderate, good humoured first US popeAmericans on first US pope: ‘Everything dope, including the pope’Share your views on Pope Leo XIVHistorically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X.There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. Continue reading...

Culture

3 d. ago Robert Francis Prevost becomes first US pope and will be known as Leo XIV – live

Bells ring in St Peter’s Square as cardinals elect successor to Pope FrancisRobert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV as cardinals elect first US pontiffUS celebrates first US pope: ‘Everything dope, including the pope’Historically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X.There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Conclave live: Robert Francis Prevost to be first American pope and will become Leo XIV

Bells ring in St Peter’s Square as cardinals elect successor to Pope FrancisExplainer: how does the conclave work?Leading candidates to be the next popeHistorically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X.There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Conclave live: black smoke emerges from chimney as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Signal from Sistine Chapel chimney shows deliberations will continue over new leader of the Catholic church Explainer: how does the conclave work?Leading candidates to be the next popeHistorically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X.There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Income tax update due next week after calls to increase Personal Allowance to £20,000

A petition calling on the UK Government to increase the Personal Allowance to £20,000 has attracted more than 248,000 signatures across the UK and is set to be debated in Parliament on Monday, May 12

Economics

4 d. ago West Lothian day care centre awarded £5,000 by Scotmid members

Answer Day Care Centre in West Lothian is one of three good causes across the East of Scotland that has been awarded a share of a £25,000 Scotmid funding pot.

Economics

4 d. ago Call the Midwife fans lose it as show bosses make another huge announcement

BBC's hit show Call the Midwife has left fans ecstatic following an update on new projects currently in the pipeline

Politics

5 d. ago BBC shares 'profoundly emotional' update about the future of Call The Midwife as show boss pays tribute to loyal fans

Beeb boss Lindsay Salt described the show as a 'jewel in the BBC's crown'.

Economics

5 d. ago Trump makes stunning '51st state' call in front of Canada's new PM Mark Carney: Live updates

It come as the relationship between the U.S. and its neighbor has been undermined by the president's tariffs and talk of annexing Canada as the '51st state.'

Politics

5 d. ago Drivers urged to ‘beat the system’ after record number of parking tickets issued

The companies issue about 41,000 tickets per day

Politics

5 d. ago Parking boss says it is 'easy to beat the system' as 41,000 fines a day issued

Will Hurley, chief executive of trade body the International Parking Community (IPC), said operators want drivers to park "where they need to, when they need to" without breaking any rules

Politics

5 d. ago Tax check: shock bills hit UK savers as HMRC targets interest on Personal Savings Allowance for new tax year

Even modest savings could push you over your limit — and HMRC is already sending out the bill 📈

Events

5 d. ago New income tax update on calls to increase Personal Allowance to £20,000 due next week

More than 248,400 people have signed an online petition calling for an increase to the £12,570 Personal Allowance.

Economics